Technology and Trumpet Playing

written by Bruce Chidester on January 13, 2025

We live in a very fast passed world which includes constant innovations in all areas of our lives. Artificial Intelligence has changed the way we collect information, advancements in medicine is prolonging our lives as well as improvements even in our automobiles and manufacturing practices. But who could have predicted that printing in 3D would be helpful in prolonging my Trumpet career? During a recent biopsy of my right upper lung, I was told that I had developed cancer. That was not the information I was hoping for but during this same procedure, I also incurred another disappointment. During the…

Jazz Is Alive and Well in Sherman, Texas…

written by Bruce Chidester

If you have not spent some time in Sherman, Texas, you have missed an event that you would have remembered for the rest of your life. If you are a Jazz fan and have not experienced the amazing collection of Jazz memorabilia in Sherman, Texas, you are not a true…

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Is There A God and Can He Perform Miracles? Part 2

written by Bruce Chidester

After reading our first post, Is There A God and Can He Perform Miracles? Part 1 – Trumpet Blog , some may ask why these miraculous changes occurred? Were they simple coincidences or is there actually power in prayer? Only each individual will be able to answer this question. But,…

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Is There A God and Can He Perform Miracles? Part 1

written by Bruce Chidester

The past year has had many unexpected turns which can test one’s faith and understanding of life. April of last year began unexpectedly when it was discovered that my wife had developed cancer in her right eye. After its extraction we were faced with the saddening fact that the cancer…

Substantiating Evidence That All Trumpet Mouthpieces are Not Equal (or consistent).

written by Bruce Chidester

In a previous post, I addressed the practice of “Clocking” your mouthpiece (“Clocking” Your Mouthpiece Part #2 – Trumpet Blog (thetrumpetblog.com). At the end of my post, I admitted to the possibility that rotating one’s mouthpiece can and did change the sound as well as a resistance factor. In the…

Musician Humor

written by Bruce Chidester

From time to time I am sent musician jokes from friends and I thought these were worth posting. A seasoned musician will understand clearly what is going on for we have all been there. Enjoy. A very intense, self-absorbed saxophone player is sitting at the bar after playing all night.…

Practicing on the Road

written by Bruce Chidester

Much discussion has been raise over the noise factor when practicing on the road and for that reason I wanted to give just another suggestion for solving this problem. Next week I will be on one of our vacations and because of the luggage limitations, I will not be able…

The Great American Shoot Out Part 5- String Trio vs. Brass Trio

written by Bruce Chidester

In our ever-continuing struggle to gain prominence in the world of instrumental performances, I have now posted the 5th in our series entitled “The Great American Shoot Out” which compares music written for various ensembles and solo instruments to the technical ability of the Trumpet. Vivaldi composed this number (La…

The Best Tongue XRay

written by Bruce Chidester

If you ever wondered what was going on in your mouth while playing your Trumpet….. Check this out …..and Trombone.

Required Listening Assignment

written by Bruce Chidester

As the interest in Trumpet choirs continues to grow, some ensembles seem to occupy the highest level of professionalism. Such is the case for the San Luis Obispo County Trumpet Alliance and their most accomplished director Warren Balfour. I have had the pleasure of knowing and following this remarkable ensemble…

Possibly The Most Difficult Record Copy Ever Made

written by Bruce Chidester

One of my all-time favorite Dixieland groups was Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen. A list of their successes in the early 1960s would include the following- Midnight in Moscow, The Green Leaves of Summer, Sukiyaki, Hello Dolly and When I’m Sixty- Four. But the most impressive recording in my opinion,…

How to Play a Low F in Tune

written by Bruce Chidester

Not often, but enough to learn this trick, we are asked to play a low F. Usually it is required by someone who knows nothing about our instrument or acceptable orchestration practices. Or, in the case recently, where I arranged a number which required the first trumpet to exceed what…

Trumpet Tips

Perfect Pitch and How You Can Develop It

written by Bruce Chidester

Perfect pitch, also known as absolute pitch, is a rare and highly sought-after ability in the world of music. It refers to the ability to identify and reproduce any musical note without any reference point. This means that someone with perfect pitch can hear a note and immediately know its…

More Interesting Assumptions Proven and Disproven

written by Bruce Chidester

In our never ending quest for truths and the American dream, I came across this assertion which sounded very plausible, yet questionable. On one of the more popular trumpet bulletin boards I found a reference to a trick which apparently Mr. Armando Ghitalla was given credit. The writer mentioned in…